# Journeyman Carpenter **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547 "2023-05-25T02:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cecel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@Cecel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/1 "2023-05-25T02:37:58Z")
I was hired as a journeyman carpenter with a contractor at a large manufacturing compuand was told I had to test and join the union. Fast forward 4 years… I am still employed and have the most seniority out of everyone. I never lay out of work other than once when I was in the ER with stomach pain. I never late either. One Friday my boss asked if I wanted to do side work over the weekend and I said yes. He said he would call me if he needed me. Monday morning I reported to work and since I never received a call from him I assumed he didn’t need me. When I saw my boss he said he was mad because he called me and my daughter hung up on him. My daughter was out of town that weekend so I know he didn’t call. I asked to see the number he called and me and a coworker showed him that he call other wrong number. Since that day he has punished me by letting everyone else work overtime but me. I ha have heard that he talks bad about me, my wife and my daughter and says that I don’t need overtime because my wife has a job. Recently he told the whole crew he had to cut hours but he lets everyone but me come in and work on their day off. So basically only my hours have been cut. I will repeat that I have the most seniority. He tells everyone my personal medical business and said I was a pu\*\*y because I went to the ER with what we thought was appendicitis but turned out to be pancreatitis. Is there anything I can do? Can I file a grievance with the union I am a member of? I don’t deserve this treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/2 "2023-05-25T03:08:12Z")
Step one of any work issue is talk to the union if you have one. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/3 "2023-05-25T11:03:26Z")
Welcome ! Yes, talk to your union - that’s what they’re there for. ---
**Author:** ![Cecel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@Cecel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/4 "2023-05-25T11:52:16Z")
I wasn’t sure if a union hall worked the same way. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/5 "2023-05-25T13:33:31Z")
Why are you still working there? You are a skilled worker in a “in demand” job and should have your choice of employers unless you’re leaving out some information. Being union your seniority should carry with you. Again, why are you still working there? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/6 "2023-05-25T14:00:39Z")
Since this is an opinion and advice type of topic and not factual, let’s move this to IMHO (from FQ). ---
**Author:** ![Cecel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@Cecel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/7 "2023-05-25T14:06:02Z")
No I am not leaving out information. The job market here for construction sucks right now. I have applied for several jobs. Hoping I get one of them. I can’t just quit since I have a family. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/journeyman-carpenter/984547/8 "2023-05-25T18:48:43Z")
Okay, must be slower in your area. The biggest demand around where I live is the small to mid-sized project carpenters. Usually self employed or with a partner. If I wanted to gut and redo my basement rec/family room the project is too big for a “handyman” but so small a normal contractor doesn’t want the job. The carpenters that fill this void are swamped, with estimates a year out. Is there a market for this type of job in your area?